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With the development of fuel cell vehicles, the hydrogen leakage detector is urgent to satisfy the safety requirements of the vehicles with low power consumption. In this work, a self-powered hydrogen leakage detector based on impedance adjustable windmill-like triboelectric nanogenerator (WL-TENG) has been demonstrated. It could harvest wind energy during the driving of hydrogen fuel vehicle to power the whole sensing system. The inherent impedance and matching region of WL-TENG can be tuned effectively by adjusting the center angle of the windmill plate. The resistance of the Pd/ZnO nanorods based hydrogen sensor changes from 300 kΩ to 60 kΩ under pure air atmosphere to 1000 ppm H2. Then, a matching WL-TENG with 3° center angle was series connected to H2 sensor to construct the self-powered H2 sensing system. Finally, by introducing 150 kΩ divider constant resistor, the voltage across it increases from ~15 V to ~60 V with the H2 concentration increasing from 0 to 1000 ppm. The output voltage of WL-TENG varies with the variable working states of the gas sensor and then directly reflects on the on/off status of the LEDs parallel connected to the divider resistor. This work contributes to the development of impedance matching theory of TENG and further expand its application on self-powered sensing system.

In this work, W-doped TiO2, was successfully fabricated, as electron transport layer (ETL) in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) via low-temperature solution-processed method, whose outstanding performances were verified. The experimental results reveal that, W6+ was doped into the TiO2 lattice successfully. The improved ETL exhibit significantly improved on conductivity, transport and extraction of photo-generated carriers and less trap-state density as compared with the pristine TiO2 films. Meanwhile, strengthening the velocity of carrier and collection of sufficient charge can efficiently increase short-circuit current (JSC) which favor an improved fill factor (FF) and a higher power conversion efficiency (PCE). Our optimized cation–anion-mixed PSC based on W-doped TiO2 has achieved an efficiency of 18.85%. This improved PCE is almost 28.1% higher than that of the pure TiO2. This study provides a promising approach to design metal-doped TiO2 for fabricating high-performance perovskite solar cells.

This comprehensive qualitative examination of two groups of Canadian picture books, 57 titles published in 2005 and 120 titles published in 2015, offers comparative data that demonstrate patterns related to authors, illustrators, characterization, genres, audiences, and particular elements of Radical Change. Following book collection, content analysis was conducted with a consideration of Dresang’s notion that books for children are evolving with respect to forms and formats, perspectives, and boundaries. Our process for analysis was developed from Berg’s framework of systematic content analysis based on predetermined as well as emerging categories. There is much recent research exploring particular content in children’s literature, supporting the central importance of literature in the classroom and community. Comparative Canadian studies across decades, however, are rare, and are increasingly important as a way to track and describe the changes that are taking place with respect to books for young people. It is interesting that in both 2005 and 2015, picture books tended to feature children as protagonists, with the highest number of books from the 2005 set utilizing the fantasy genre (at 34%) or realistic fiction (at 28%) and the highest number of books from the 2015 set occurring in non-fiction (at 34%, up from 16% in 2005) or fantasy (at 31%). Historical fiction in both years presented comparatively low, at 12% and 3%, respectively.Findings of this study support and extend the notion of Radical Change. The research team noted marked innovations within the 2015 group related to forms and formats, boundaries, and perspectives. Of particular note are the increasing numbers of books that present Indigenous content and perspectives. While many of the changes appearing in Canadian picture books between 2005 and 2015 might be predicted through the standard categories of Radical Change (Dresang, 1999), other findings also emerged that suggest new Radical Change considerations. Continuing to examine children’s literature as artifacts of a culture can illuminate particular aspects of that culture and offer opportunities to engage authors, illustrators, and publishers in filling gaps where particular perspectives or topics are missing. Advocacy is important as children’s literature continues to be a source of tension for what it portrays and presents as well as its missing voices. A knowledge of patterns and trends in relation to available content and resources supports classroom practice as well as encourages classroom research and further explorations of the evolving landscape of children's books.

Multidrug resistance mediated by ABCB1 has been perceived to be one of the obstacles for cancer chemotherapy. This meta-analysis was performed to verify the effect of the ABCB1 rs1045642 and rs1128503 polymorphisms on the response to Taxane-containing chemotherapy. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were employed to evaluate the impact of these two ABCB1 polymorphisms. R scripts were developed to perform the meta-analysis. A total of nine articles (including nine studies for rs1045642 and five for rs1128503) were collected in our systematic review. However, our meta-analysis showed no significant effect of these two ABCB1 polymorphisms on the response to Taxane-containing regimens. This study highlights the unsuitability of relying on the ABCB1 rs1045642 and rs1128503 polymorphisms as therapeutic response biomarkers of Taxane-containing chemotherapy. Further polycentric studies in larger and multiracial populations are needed to validate the conclusions.

The aim of the paper is to characterize weakly sharp solutions of a variational inequality problem. In particular, we present weak sharpness results by using primal and dual gap functions, g and G,...

// Meizhen Xu 1, * , Yina Liu 1, * , Dan Li 2, 3, 6, * , Xuelin Wang 4 , Shuang Liang 5 , Gaochuan Zhang 1 and Xiaoqin Yang 1 1 School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China 2 Clinical Translational Research Center, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China 3 School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China 4 Yushan Town, Kunshan, China 5 Scotch Plains, New Jersey, USA 6 Present address: Jiayin BioTechnology Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China * These authors contributed equally to this work Correspondence to: Gaochuan Zhang, email: zhanggaochuan@suda.edu.cn Xiaoqin Yang, email: yangxiaoqin@suda.edu.cn Keywords: ERCC5, polymorphism, cancer, meta-analysis, platinum-based chemotherapy Received: November 23, 2016 Accepted: June 17, 2017 Published: July 04, 2017 ABSTRACT It is suspected that ERCC5 rs1047768 and rs17655 polymorphisms influence the response to platinum-based chemotherapy. This meta-analysis was performed to summarize the scattered evidence regarding the association between these two polymorphisms and sensitivity to platinum-based treatment. Thirteen studies were included after a comprehensive literature search. The pooled odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals suggested that the C allele of the ERCC5 rs1047768 polymorphism is associated with elevated sensitivity to platinating agents, especially for Chinese patients. However, no difference among rs17655 genotypes could be detected.

Firefighting foams contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) - a class of compounds widely used as surfactants. PFAS are persistent organic pollutants that have been reported in waterways and drinking water systems across the United States. These substances are of interest to both regulatory agencies and the general public because of their persistence in the environment and association with adverse health effects. PFAS can be released in large quantities during industrial incidents because they are present in most firefighting foams used to suppress chemical fires; however, little is known about persistence of PFAS in public waterways after such events. In response to large-scale fires at Intercontinental Terminal Company (ITC) in Houston, Texas in March 2019, almost 5 million liters of class B firefighting foams were used. Much of this material flowed into the Houston Ship Channel and Galveston Bay (HSC/GB) and concerns were raised about the levels of PFAS in these water bodies that have commercial and recreational uses. To evaluate the impact of the ITC incident response on PFAS levels in HSC/GB, we collected 52 surface water samples from 12 locations over a 6-month period after the incident. Samples were analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to evaluate 27 PFAS, including perfluorocarboxylic acids, perfluorosulfonates and fluorotelomers. Among PFAS that were evaluated, 6:2 FTS and PFOS were detected at highest concentrations. Temporal and spatial profiles of PFAS were established; we found a major peak in the level of many PFAS in the days and weeks after the incident and a gradual decline over several months with patterns consistent with the tide- and wave-associated water movements. This work documents the impact of a large-scale industrial fire, on the environmental levels of PFAS, establishes a baseline concentration of PFAS in HSC/GB, and highlights the critical need for development of PFAS water quality standards.

The portable UV photodetector is used to timely remind humans of overexposure to UV radiation. However, the traditional UV photodetector cannot meet the practical demands, and the power supply problem hinders its further development. In this work, we demonstrated a flexible, transparent, and self-powered UV photodetector by coupling of triboelectric and photoelectric effects. The device integrates a flexible ZnO nanoparticle (NP) UV photodetector, a transparent- and flexible-film-based TENG (TFF-TENG), commercial chip resistors, and LEDs on the PET thin film. The TFF-TENG could harvest mechanical energy from finger tapping and sliding motion and power the ZnO NP UV photodetector to realize self-powered detection. The voltage of the constant resistors connected with the UV photodetector in series changes from 0.5 to 19 V under the UV light with power intensities increasing from 0.46 to 21.8 mW/cm2, and the voltage variation is reflected by the number of LEDs directly. The excellent flexibility and transparency of the device could extend its application scenarios; for example, such a portable device could be applied to real-time monitoring of the UV radiation to remind humans of intense UV light.

2,3,3,3-Tetrafluoro-2-(heptafluoropropoxy)propanoate (known as GenX) has been used as an alternative to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) which was phased out of formulations for industrial and consumer product applications in 2015. While the effects of GenX on lab animals have been studied, little is known about its effects on plants. This study examined and compared the accumulation and toxicity of GenX and PFOA in the model plants Arabidopsis thaliana and Nicotiana benthamiana. Both plants showed reduction in biomass and root growth following exposure to PFOA or GenX in a dosage-dependent manner. The bioaccumulation factors (BFs) of GenX and PFOA were plant species-dependent, with higher BFs in A. thaliana compared to N. bethanminana. Additionally, GenX and PFOA were more readily accumulated into shoot tissues of A. thaliana than in N. bethanminana. Exposure to GenX also caused a reduction in chlorophyll content (18%) and total phenolic compounds (26%). However, GenX exposure increased superoxide dismutase activity and H2O2 content (1.6 and 2.6 folds increase, respectively) in N. benthamiana. Overall, our result suggest that GenX is bioaccumulative, and that its accumulation likely inhibits plant growth and photosynthesis as well as inducing oxidative stress.

Kidney is a major route of xenobiotic excretion, but the accuracy of preclinical data for predicting in vivo clearance is limited by species differences and non-physiologic 2D culture conditions. Microphysiological systems can potentially increase predictive accuracy due to their more realistic 3D environment and incorporation of dynamic flow. We used a renal proximal tubule microphysiological device to predict renal reabsorption of five compounds: creatinine (negative control), perfluorooctanoic acid (positive control), cisplatin, gentamicin, and cadmium. We perfused compound-containing media to determine renal uptake/reabsorption, adjusted for non-specific binding. A physiologically-based parallel tube model was used to model reabsorption kinetics and make predictions of overall in vivo renal clearance. For all compounds tested, the kidney tubule chip combined with physiologically-based modeling reproduces qualitatively and quantitatively in vivo tubular reabsorption and clearance. However, because the in vitro device lacks filtration and tubular secretion components, additional information on protein binding and the importance of secretory transport is needed in order to make accurate predictions. These and other limitations, such as the presence of non-physiological compounds such as antibiotics and bovine serum albumin in media and the need to better characterize degree of expression of important transporters, highlight some of the challenges with using microphysiological devices to predict in vivo pharmacokinetics.

A suite of biomarkers, including amino acids, pigments, and lignin phenols coupled with high resolution mass spectrometry were used to evaluate differences in the sources and fate of organic matter (OM) in Everglades treatment wetlands as a model for OM cycling in shallow water wetlands. Five components of the system (water column particulate matter, vertical traps, flocculent material, periphyton, and surface soil) were assessed for OM transformations down-profile (i.e. water column to soil) and between treatment cells dominated by emergent aquatic vegetation (EAV) and submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), with comparisons to reference sites within the remnant Everglades. We found that OM cycling is fundamentally different between EAV and SAV wetlands, and that SAV wetlands have some shared characteristics with similar habitats in the remnant Everglades. Other than locations densely populated by Typha spp., water column particulate organic C was predominantly derived from microbial/cryptomonad sources, rather than macroscopic sources (vascular plants and algal mats). Bacterial amino acid biomarkers were positively correlated with amino acid degradation indices and organic P (Po), respectively suggesting that microbial abundance is associated with less degraded OM, and that further investigation into relationships between microbial biomass and Po is warranted. Overall, this multi-biomarker approach can elucidate the relative degradation of OM pools, identify sources of OM, and highlight the importance of water column processes in shallow water wetlands.

James, Matt. The Funeral. Groundwood Books-House of Anansi Press, 2018. The Funeral, written by Matt James, focuses on a day that Norma goes to her Uncle Frank’s funeral. While this book will appeal to children, it is also good for adults to look at something heavy in life, such as a funeral, through a child’s eye. In a relaxed tone and cozy painting style, the story starts with Norma finding out that she won’t have to go to school on the day of her uncle’s funeral. She is excited about the day off and the “plan” of the day, playing with her cousin. Throughout the funeral, the story is developed through Norma’s eyes, showing how she experiences the time with her cousin. Before Norma leaves the funeral, she thinks Uncle Frank would have loved his funeral, since she noticed he was smiling right at her in his photo. Instead of a heavy, didactic teaching of the meaning of death, Matt explores a delicate way to describe a funeral from a child’s perspective. For example: There was a little flag [which said FUNERAL] on the car that drove them to the church. Norma tried to sound out the word printed on it.“F-U-N,” she said.And then she said it again. Matt James, a Canadian artist, is an illustrator of many picture books. With this picture book, James debuts as a writer and illustrator. The illustrations of the book are mostly acrylic and ink on masonite. Also, this book is the first time he combined a few digital pieces on the background illustrations. This book would tie in perfectly to a classroom talk about funerals and similar occasions and illustrates what a funeral is like from a child’s perspective. Highly Recommended: 4 out of 4 starsReviewer: Yina Liu Yina Liu is a first year PhD student in Language and Literacy, in the department of Elementary Education. Her research interests are digital literacies and children's literature, especially digital picture books. She finished her Master's degree at the University of Saskatchewan and worked in a preschool classroom as an early childhood educator for a year in Saskatchewan.

The rapid development of wearable electronics has led to an enormous demand for power sources that are wearable, small-scale, flexible and compatible. In this work, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) as the liquid electrode and silicone rubber as the triboelectric/encapsulation layer were introduced to design a stretchable PEDOT:PSS liquid electrode-based triboelectric nanogenerator (PL-TENG). The elastic silicone rubber and PEDOT:PSS liquid electrode with a special macromolecular structure endowed PL-TENG with extraordinary flexibility and conductivity simultaneously. Working under the single-electrode mode with different motion frequencies from 0.5 to 2.5 Hz, PL-TENG generated open-circuit voltage of 265 V, short-circuit current of 24.9 μA and short-circuit charge quantity of 85 nC. The output performances still maintained the original values after washing in saline, storing for one month and stretching 10 000 times. At the same time, PL-TENG could also produce stable electrical outputs even when deformed into a variety of shapes including stretching in different directions, bending and twisting. All of these features demonstrated the excellent resistance of PL-TENG to sweat, time and deformation. When attached to a human body, PL-TENG could provide a sufficiently stable power output to drive wearable electronics sustainably.

COVID-19 has created significant changes in the everyday lives of teachers, children and parents. Due to school lockdowns in the spring semester of 2020, teachers shifted from in-person classroom teaching into “emergent remote teaching” (Hodges et al. 2020, para. 5), where digital tools and software were used for instruction and teacher-student communications. Many children have also shifted their social lives from face-to-face to virtual interactions (Hutchins 2020); for example, engaging in online family story reading, social media participation, and joining after school activities digitally. This pandemic has highlighted the importance of being literate in digital environments for children. Digital literacy, that is, literacy practices undertaken across multi-media, involving “accessing, using and analysing digital texts and artefacts in addition to their production and dissemination” (Sefton-Green et al. 2016, p. 15). The importance of the digital world and digital tools for the post-COVID future where digital literacy could become more prominently featured for teachers, children, and parents must not be underemphasized. In this presentation, I reviewed the literature on young children’s digital literacy practices at home. Many studies have illustrated the benefits and various kinds of learning that children get from their digital play at home, including emergent literacy learning (Neumann 2016), digital citizenship (Bennett et al. 2016), etc. Moreover, I presented the complex trajectories of children playing with their digital devices and toys at home (Marsh 2017). In the 21st century children’s home play, the boundaries between the virtual and physical worlds are blurring (Marsh 2010; O’Mara and Laidlaw 2011; Carrington 2017). More importantly, this literature review suggests a gap and an opportunity for future researchers to explore home digital literacy of children, who are from minority backgrounds in Canada, as literacy practices are socially and culturally situated. This presentation illustrates the importance of my proposed doctoral research, as my research aims to explore Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CLD) children’s digital home literacy practices in Canada.

Per- and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of highly persistent synthetic chemicals utilized in many industrial and consumer products, and — significantly toward introduction to the marine environment — in fire-fighting foams. Recently, PFAS have been linked to adverse health effects, prompting the need to better understand transport, lability, and fate. Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), a manufactured PFAS and biodegradation product, partitions to marine sediments and thus can be used as a primary indicator toward regulatory efforts. The current study offers a spatial and temporal analysis of Puget Sound from cores collected adjacent Tacoma and Seattle, WA, as well as cores from central Hood Canal and Carr Inlet. Temporal fluxes reflected releases into the environment corresponding with initial production and subsequent increases in use. Biologically active layers ranged from 434 pg/g (Carr Inlet) to 824 pg/g (Hood Canal) PFOS, producing benthic community risk quotients between 0.11 and 0.17.

Extensive undersaturations of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in Pacific, Atlantic, and Southern Ocean surface waters indicate that atmospheric CCl4 is consumed in large amounts by the ocean. Observations made on 16 research cruises between 1987 and 2010, ranging in latitude from 60° N to 77° S, show that negative saturations extend over most of the surface ocean. Corrected for physical effects associated with radiative heat flux, mixing, and air injection, these anomalies were commonly on the order of −5 to −10 %, with no clear relationship to temperature, productivity, or other gross surface water characteristics other than being more negative in association with upwelling. The atmospheric flux required to sustain these undersaturations is 12.4 (9.4–15.4) Gg yr−1, a loss rate implying a partial atmospheric lifetime with respect to the oceanic loss of 183 (147–241) yr and that ∼ 18 (14–22) % of atmospheric CCl4 is lost to the ocean. Although CCl4 hydrolyzes in seawater, published hydrolysis rates for this gas are too slow to support such large undersaturations, given our current understanding of air–sea gas exchange rates. The even larger undersaturations in intermediate depth waters associated with reduced oxygen levels, observed in this study and by other investigators, strongly suggest that CCl4 is ubiquitously consumed at mid-depth, presumably by microbiota. Although this subsurface sink creates a gradient that drives a downward flux of CCl4, the gradient alone is not sufficient to explain the observed surface undersaturations. Since known chemical losses are likewise insufficient to sustain the observed undersaturations, this suggests a possible biological sink for CCl4 in surface or near-surface waters of the ocean. The total atmospheric lifetime for CCl4, based on these results and the most recent studies of soil uptake and loss in the stratosphere is now 32 (26–43) yr.

Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) has shown great advances in converting low-frequency discrete mechanical energy into electricity and multifunctional real-time self-powered sensing systems. It has confirmed that the air breakdown effect is the main factor limiting the maximum effective power output of the TENG. Charges generated on the surface of TENGs diffuse into the atmosphere and internal triboelectric layer, resulting in charge loss and decrease of surface charge density. Breaking through the limitation of air breakdown and prolonging charge decay time are the two priorities for boosting TENG output. By embedding superior intermediate layer into TENG induced output enhancement provides an effective strategy to improve the output performance. Here, the working mechanisms of different materials belonging to the classifications of metals, inorganic non-metal materials, and organic polymers as the intermediate layer are reviewed elaborately. Moreover, the influences of structure parameters, such as thickness of dielectric layer, dielectric layer number, and ground connection design are discussed accordingly. Future challenges and optimizations for improvement of the intermediate layer are finally presented in the review.

Aerosol particles play important roles in processes controlling the composition of the atmosphere and function of ecosystems. A better understanding of the composition of aerosol particles is beginning to be recognized as critical for ecological research to further comprehend the link between aerosols and ecosystems. While chemical characterization of aerosols has been practiced in the atmospheric science community, detailed methodology tailored to the needs of ecological research does not exist yet. In this study, we describe an efficient methodology (atmo-ecometabolomics), in step-by-step details, from the sampling to the data analyses, to characterize the chemical composition of aerosol particles, namely atmo-metabolome. This method employs mass spectrometry platforms such as liquid and gas chromatography mass spectrometries (MS) and Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance MS (FT-ICR-MS). For methodology evaluation, we analyzed aerosol particles collected during two different seasons (spring and summer) in a low-biological-activity ecosystem. Additionally, to further validate our methodology, we analyzed aerosol particles collected in a more biologically active ecosystem during the pollination peaks of three different representative tree species. Our statistical results showed that our sampling and extraction methods are suitable for characterizing the atmo-ecometabolomes in these two distinct ecosystems with any of the analytical platforms. Datasets obtained from each mass spectrometry instrument showed overall significant differences of the atmo-ecometabolomes between spring and summer as well as between the three pollination peak periods. Furthermore, we have identified several metabolites that can be attributed to pollen and other plant-related aerosol particles. We additionally provide a basic guide of the potential use ecometabolomic techniques on different mass spectrometry platforms to accurately analyze the atmo-ecometabolomes for ecological studies. Our method represents an advanced novel approach for future studies in the impact of aerosol particle chemical compositions on ecosystem structure and function and biogeochemistry.

Background Endothelial barrier dysfunction is central to the pathogenesis of sepsis-associated acute lung injury (ALI). Microtubule (MT) dynamics in vascular endothelium are crucial for the regulation of endothelial barrier function. Unfractionated heparin (UFH) possesses various biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory activity and endothelial barrier protection during sepsis. Methods Here, we investigated the effects and underlying mechanisms of UFH on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced endothelial barrier dysfunction. C57BL/6 J mice were randomized into vehicle, UFH, LPS and LPS + UFH groups. Intraperitoneal injection of 30 mg/kg LPS was used to induce sepsis. Mice in the LPS + UFH group received intravenous UFH 0.5 h prior to LPS injection. Human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (HPMECs) were cultured for analyzing the effects of UFH on LPS-induced and nocodazole-induced hyperpermeability, F-actin remodeling, and LPS-induced p38 MAPK activation. Results UFH pretreatment significantly attenuated LPS-induced pulmonary histopathological changes, and increased the lung W/D ratio and Evans blue accumulation in vivo. Both in vivo and in vitro studies showed that UFH pretreatment blocked the LPS-induced increase in guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF-H1) expression and myosin phosphatase target subunit 1 (MYPT1) phosphorylation, and microtubule (MT) disassembly in LPS-induced ALI mouse model and human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (HPMECs). These results suggested that UFH ameliorated LPS-induced endothelial barrier dysfunction by inhibiting MT disassembly and GEF-H1 expression. In addition, UFH attenuated LPS-induced hyperpermeability of HPMECs and F-actin remodeling. In vitro, UFH pretreatment inhibited LPS-induced increase in monomeric tubulin expression and decrease in tubulin polymerization and acetylation. Meanwhile, UFH ameliorates nocodazole-induced MTs disassembly and endothelial barrier dysfunction.Additionally, UFH decreased p38 phosphorylation and activation, which was similar to the effect of the p38 MAPK inhibitor, SB203580. Conclusions UFH exert its protective effects on pulmonary microvascular endothelial barrier dysfunction via microtubule stabilization and is associated with the p38 MAPK pathway.

Background Unfractionated heparin (UFH) has been shown to ameliorate lung edema and lung vascular leakage in lipopolysaccharide-induced lung injury. Impaired tight junction (TJ) function is a sign of sepsis-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and acute lung injury (ALI), which is closely related to the downregulated expression of TJ-specific proteins or the upregulated expression of inflammatory cytokines. Because UFH has been intensively studied in modulating inflammation, we hypothesize that UFH may play a positive role in treating sepsis-induced ARDS/ALI by protecting TJs. Material and methods Rat sepsis-induced lung injury was induced by cecal ligation and puncture and treated with UFH. Hematoxylin and eosin staining, lung wet/dry weight (W/D) ratio, and pulmonary microvascular leakage were evaluated to assess lung injury. Cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were detected to determine lung inflammation. A transendothelial electrical resistance assay, a Transwell permeability assay, and transmission electron microscopy were used to study endothelial TJs in human lung microvascular endothelial cells. TJ protein expression was measured by western blotting or immunohistochemistry. Results UFH treatment alleviated lung injury in vivo by reducing IL-6 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and protecting TJs in LMVECs. UFH also protected TJs against lipopolysaccharide-stimulated damage and functioned upstream by inhibiting the ERK1/2 MAPK pathway to attenuate endothelial hyperpermeability and downregulating the expression of TJ proteins such as claudin-5, occludin, and ZO-1. Conclusions These findings suggested that UFH has therapeutic potential for sepsis-induced ARDS or ALI through protecting TJs in LMVECs.

Bladder cancer (BC) is one of the most common urogenital malignancies. However, present studies of its multiple gene interaction and cellular pathways remain unable to accurately verify the genesis and the development of BC. The aim of the present study was to investigate the genetic signatures of BC and identify its potential molecular mechanisms. The gene expression profiles of GSE31189 were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. The GSE31189 dataset contained 92 samples, including 52 BC and 40 non-cancerous urothelial cells. To further examine the biological functions of the identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs), Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed, and a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was mapped using Cytoscape software. In total, 976 DEGs were identified in BC, including 457 upregulated genes and 519 downregulated genes. GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses indicated that upregulated genes were significantly enriched in the cell cycle and the negative regulation of the apoptotic process, while the downregulated genes were mainly involved in cell proliferation, cell adhesion molecules and oxidative phosphorylation pathways (P

Brominated very short-lived substances (BrVSLS), such as bromoform, are important trace gases for stratospheric ozone chemistry. These naturally derived trace gases are formed via bromoperoxidase-mediated halogenation of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in seawater. Information on DOM type in relation to the observed BrVSLS concentrations in seawater, however, is scarce. We examined the sensitivity of BrVSLS production in relation to the presence of specific DOM moieties. A total of 28 model DOM compounds in artificial seawater were treated with vanadium bromoperoxidase (V-BrPO). Our results show a clear dependence of BrVSLS production on DOM type. In general, molecules that comprise a large fraction of the bulk DOM pool did not noticeably affect BrVSLS production. Only specific cell metabolites and humic acid appeared to significantly enhance BrVSLS production. Amino acids and lignin phenols suppressed enzyme-mediated BrVSLS production and may instead have formed halogenated nonvolatile molecules. Dibromomethane production was not observed in any experiments, suggesting it is not produced by the same pathway as the other BrVSLS. Our results suggest that regional differences in DOM composition may explain the observed BrVSLS concentration variability in the global ocean. Ultimately, BrVSLS production and concentrations are likely affected by DOM composition, reactivity, and cycling in the ocean.

Unfractionated heparin (UFH) is largely used as anti-thrombotic drug. While UFH has been shown to suppress lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation, intracellular upstream events that cause NF-κB down-regulation in response to UFH remain unclear. Thus, we investigated the involvement of phosphoinositide-3-OH kinase (PI3K)/Akt in the inhibition of LPS-activated NF-κB pathway by UFH in human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (HPMECs). Pretreatment with UFH (0.1-1U/ml) significantly inhibited LPS (10μg/ml)-stimulated interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 production in HPMECs. LPS activated Akt and NF-κB, whereas UFH suppresses LPS-induced Akt phosphorylation and NF-κB nuclear translocation, which were required for IL-6 and IL-8 gene transcription. Inhibition studies by using wortmannin abrogated NF-κB-mediated IL-6 and IL-8 expression, suggesting the requirement of PI3K/Akt pathway. Our data provided the first evidence that UFH might repress LPS-activated PI3K/Akt pathway, leading to inhibitory effect of NF-κB activation with diminished IL-6 and IL-8 expression in HPMECs.

High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a systemic inflammation‑associated cytokine mediator. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of the downregulation of HMGB1 in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‑induced mouse model of acute lung injury (ALI). It was identified that serum levels of tumor necrosis factor‑α and interleukin‑1β, lung myeloperoxidase activity and malondialdehyde content, as well as lung wet/dry weight ratios were all increased following LPS challenge. However, LPS‑mediated increases in these parameters were significantly downregulated in HMGB1 small interfering (si)RNA‑treated mice versus the negative control siRNA‑treated mice. In addition, the administration of HMGB1 siRNA in LPS‑treated mice resulted in a decreased DNA binding activity of nuclear factor‑κB (NF‑κB) in the lung. It was demonstrated that downregulation of HMGB1 decreases inflammation and the severity of sepsis associated with ALI, possibly via inhibiting the NF‑κB DNA‑binding activity. The present data support HMGB1 as a contributor to the pathogenesis of LPS‑induced sepsis and ALI.

Ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry, such as Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT ICR MS), can resolve thousands of molecular ions in complex organic matrices. A Compound Identification Algorithm (CIA) was previously developed for automated elemental formula assignment for natural organic matter (NOM). In this work, we describe software Formularity with a user-friendly interface for CIA function and newly developed search function Isotopic Pattern Algorithm (IPA). While CIA assigns elemental formulas for compounds containing C, H, O, N, S, and P, IPA is capable of assigning formulas for compounds containing other elements. We used halogenated organic compounds (HOC), a chemical class that is ubiquitous in nature as well as anthropogenic systems, as an example to demonstrate the capability of Formularity with IPA. A HOC standard mix was used to evaluate the identification confidence of IPA. Tap water and HOC spike in Suwannee River NOM were used to assess HOC identification in complex environmental samples. Strategies for reconciliation of CIA and IPA assignments were discussed. Software and sample databases with documentation are freely available.

Activation of protein C is greatly enhanced by the presence of thrombomodulin (TM) and endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) on the endothelial surface. Impairment of the anticoagulant protein C system occurs during endotoxemia and contributes to sepsis-associated hypercoagulability. Previous studies have demonstrated that unfractionated heparin (UFH) can attenuate coagulation in endotoxemic mice. However, whether UFH has an effect on the protein C system remains to be elucidated. The current study evaluated the therapeutic effect of UFH on the protein C system in a mouse model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sepsis, and further investigated the effect of UFH on the expression of TM and EPCR in vitro using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The in vivo data indicated that UFH preconditioning attenuated the decline in circulating activated protein C following LPS administration, and also reduced LPS-induced shedding of TM and EPCR. In HUVECs, LPS stimulation led to the downregulation of TM and EPCR expression, and UFH dose-dependently restored the mRNA and protein levels of TM and EPCR. In addition, UFH inhibited the LPS-induced activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase 14, proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase Src and nuclear factor κB signaling in HUVECs. In summary, these results suggest that UFH has a protective effect on the protein C system during sepsis. Thus, UFH may be a candidate therapeutic agent for the treatment of patients with sepsis.

During the 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill, 1.84 M gallons of chemical dispersant was applied to oil released in the subsurface and to oil slicks at the surface. We used liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry to quantify the anionic surfactant DOSS (dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate) in samples collected from environments known to contain oil persisting from the DWH oil spill. DOSS was found to persist in variable quantities in deep-sea coral communities (6–9000 ng/g) 6 months after the spill and on Gulf of Mexico beaches (1–260 ng/g) 26–45 months after the spill. These results indicate that the applied dispersant, which was thought to undergo rapid degradation in the water column, remains associated with oil in the environment and can persist for ∼4 years.

Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas August 25, 2017, bringing massive rains and flooding that impacted soils in a residential neighborhood in East Houston. Trace elements, organochlorine pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polybrominated diphenyl ether fire retardants (PBDEs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were determined in 24 soil samples. The highest concentrations found in soils were total PAHs, which ranged from 1,310 μg/kg to 85,700 μg/kg with a mean of 12,600 μg/kg. Analysis of specific PAH ratios indicate the source of the PAHs were dominated by pyrogenic rather than petrogenic sources. Chlordanes were detectable in the area where the likely local source is for ant control. The trace metal concentrations were below any environmental health concern concentrations but As, Cd, Hg, Pb, Se, Ag, Zn were enriched over the crustal abundance. While Hurricane Harvey was responsible for the redistribution of many contaminants, the large volume of rain and floodwater likely transported contaminants from the land areas and into the Houston Ship Channel and Galveston Bay. The findings from this study will serve as baseline data for determining the mobilization of contaminants caused by natural disasters.

[1] Atmospheric mixing ratios and seawater concentrations of bromoform (CHBr3), dibromomethane (CH2Br2), and other brominated very short-lived substances (BrVSLS) were measured during five cruises from 1994 to 2010. These cruises were conducted over large latitudinal (62°N–60°S) and longitudinal transects (11°W–86°W) in the Atlantic Ocean. Elevated seawater concentrations of CHBr3 and CH2Br2 were often observed in regions where chlorophyll a concentrations were also elevated, which suggests biogeochemical processes associated with photosynthetic biomass may be related to CHBr3 and CH2Br2 production. Our results suggest that, at least in the open ocean, several phytoplankton taxa may contribute to the production of these trace gases. While observed correlations between CHBr3 and CH2Br2 in different regions are usually interpreted as common sources for these compounds, results in this study suggest different biogeochemical processes may contribute separately to the production of these trace gases. Heterotrophic bacterial abundance was significantly correlated with CH2Br2, but not with CHBr3, which suggests the biogeochemical processes associated with heterotrophic bacteria may be related to CH2Br2 in seawater but probably not to CHBr3. In general, the Atlantic Ocean is a net source for CHBr3 and CH2Br2, except for a few locations where these trace gases were undersaturated in seawater. Assuming fluxes measured in the Atlantic open ocean are globally representative, the resulting extrapolated, global open-ocean annual net sea-to-air fluxes calculated from data from the five cruises was estimated at 0.24–3.80 Gmol Br yr−1 for CHBr3 and 0.11–0.77 Gmol Br yr−1 for CH2Br2.

[1] Seawater concentrations and distributions of brominated very short-lived substances (BrVSLS), including bromoform (CHBr3), dibromomethane (CH2Br2), bromodichloromethane (CHBrCl2), chlorodibromomethane (CHClBr2), were measured in the upper water column (5–750 m) in the eastern Pacific. Inorganic nutrient, pigment concentrations, and picoplankton cell counts were measured to determine biogeochemical factors that affect the production and distribution of these BrVSLS. Elevated concentrations of BrVSLS were observed in coastal and tropical seawater. Concentration maxima for CHBr3, CH2Br2, and CHClBr2 were observed below the mixed layer, near the subsurface chlorophyll a maxima, which suggest BrVSLS production may be related to photosynthetic biomass production. Our results also suggest that heterotrophic bacteria may also contribute to CH2Br2 and CHBrCl2 production in the water column. The maximum CHBrCl2 concentration was observed at a depth much deeper than the euphotic zone, which suggests sources other than photosynthetic biomass. Elevated CHBrCl2 concentrations in deeper waters were coincident with elevated CHCl3 concentrations, which may be an evidence for successive chlorine substitution of CHBr3 in deeper and older water masses.

Aerosols directly and indirectly play crucial roles in the processes controlling the composition of the atmosphere and the functioning of ecosystems. Gaining a deeper understanding of the chemical composition of aerosols is one of the major challenges for atmospheric and climate scientists and is beginning to be recognized as important for ecological research. Better comprehension of aerosol chemistry can potentially provide valuable information on atmospheric processes such as oxidation of organics and the production of cloud condensation nuclei as well as provide an approximation of the general status of an ecosystem through the measurement of certain stress biomarkers. In this study, we describe an efficient aerosol sampling method, the metabolite extraction procedures for the chemical characterization of aerosols, namely, the atmo-metabolome. We used mass spectrometry (MS) coupled to liquid chromatography (LC-MS), gas chromatography (GC-MS) and Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR-MS) for a deep characterization of the atmo-metabolome. The atmo-metabolomes from two distinct seasons, spring and summer, were compared to test the sensitivity and demonstrate the information that can be provided from each analytical platform. Our results showed that our sampling and extraction methods are suitable for aerosol chemical characterization with any of the analytical platforms used in this study. The three datasets obtained from these individual platforms showed significant differences of the overall atmo-metabolome between spring and summer. LC-MS and GC-MS analyses identified several metabolites that can be attributed to pollen and other plant-related aerosols. Spring samples exhibit higher concentrations of metabolites linked to higher plant activity while summer samples had higher concentrations of metabolites that may reflect certain oxidative stresses. FT-ICR-MS analysis showed clear differences in the elemental composition of aerosols between spring and summer. Summer aerosols were generally higher in molecular weight and with higher O / C ratios, indicating higher oxidation levels and condensation of compounds relative to spring. Our method represents an advanced approach for characterizing the composition of aerosols that will benefit scientists attempting to understand complex atmospheric processes and the ecosystem status across a whole ecoregion.

To determine the effect of unfractionated heparin (UFH) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced expression of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), and the role of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling pathway in this process.Human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (HPMECs) were cultured in vitro, and the cells between passages 3 and 5 were used in the experiments. Experiment I: the cells were divided into four groups as follows: control group, LPS stimulation group (LPS 10 μg/mL), LPS + 0.1 U/mL UFH group, and LPS + 1 U/mL UFH group. HPMECs in UFH groups were treated with 0.1 U/mL or 1 U/mL UFH 15 minutes before LPS stimulation, and HPMECs in control group were treated with an equal volume of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) instead. The concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and G-CSF in cell culture supernatants were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) 24 hours after LPS challenge to detect the effect of UFH on HPMECs. Experiment II: HPMECs were treated with 5 μg/mL of rhodobacter sphaeroides LPS (LPS-RS, antagonist for TLR4) 4 hours before the addition of PBS or LPS. The concentrations of IL-6 and G-CSF in cell culture supernatants were determined 24 hours after LPS stimulation to detect the effect of TLR4 on LPS-induced HPMEC injury. Experiment III: HPMECs were divided into four groups as before: control group, LPS stimulation group, LPS + 0.1 U/mL UFH group, LPS + 1 U/mL UFH group. Treatments to cells were the same as experiment I. The protein expression of TLR4 in HPMECs was determined by Western Blot 1 hour after LPS stimulation to detect the effect of UFH on TLR4.(1) Compared with control group, the levels of IL-6 and G-CSF in LPS stimulation group were increased [IL-6 (ng/L): 655.9±58.3 vs. 75.5±18.2, G-CSF (ng/L): 388.7±36.2 vs. 35.3±12.6, both P0.05]. Compared with those of LPS stimulation group, in LPS + 0.1 U/mL UFH group and LPS + 1 U/mL UFH group, the levels of IL-6 and G-CSF were significantly decreased [IL-6 (ng/L): 518.2±64.6, 489.1±75.6 vs. 655.9±58.3, G-CSF (ng/L): 298.8±41.0, 273.4±33.2 vs. 388.7±36.2, all P0.05]. The results indicated that 1 U/mL UFH had better results, though there was no statistical significance between the results of two UFH groups. (2) LPS-induced up-regulation of IL-6 and G-CSF levels was prevented by LPS-RS [IL-6 (ng/L): 139.1±37.6 vs. 655.9±58.3, G-CSF (ng/L): 73.7±19.7 vs. 388.7±36.2, both P0.05]. LPS-RS alone had no effect on cytokines [IL-6 (ng/L): 118.2±42.1 vs. 75.5±18.2, G-CSF (ng/L): 48.4±26.8 vs. 35.3±12.6, both P0.05]. (3) Compared with control group, the protein expression of TLR4 (grey value) in LPS stimulation group was significantly upregulated after 1 hour (0.87±0.23 vs. 0.36±0.12, P0.05). UFH with 0.1 U/mL and 1 U/mL lowered TLR-4 protein expression induced by LPS (0.68±0.18, 0.62±0.26 vs. 0.87±0.23, both P0.05).The expressions of IL-6 and G-CSF were increased obviously in LPS treated HPMECs. UFH might take its therapeutic effect through TLR4-dependent pathway.

The performance of the Weather Research and Forecasting regional model with chemistry (WRF-Chem) in simulating the spatial and temporal variations in aerosol mass, composition, and size over California is quantified using the extensive meteorological, trace gas, and aerosol measurements collected during the California Nexus of Air Quality and Climate Experiment (CalNex) and the Carbonaceous Aerosol and Radiative Effects Study (CARES) conducted during May and June of 2010. The overall objective of the field campaigns was to obtain data needed to better understand processes that affect both climate and air quality, including emission assessments, transport and chemical aging of aerosols, aerosol radiative effects. Simulations were performed that examined the sensitivity of aerosol concentrations to anthropogenic emissions and to long-range transport of aerosols into the domain obtained from a global model. The configuration of WRF-Chem used in this study is shown to reproduce the overall synoptic conditions, thermally driven circulations, and boundary layer structure observed in region that controls the transport and mixing of trace gases and aerosols. Reducing the default emissions inventory by 50% led to an overall improvement in many simulated trace gases and black carbon aerosol at most sites and along most aircraft flight paths; however, simulated organic aerosol was closer to observed when there were no adjustments to the primary organic aerosol emissions. We found that sulfate was better simulated over northern California whereas nitrate was better simulated over southern California. While the overall spatial and temporal variability of aerosols and their precursors were simulated reasonably well, we show cases where the local transport of some aerosol plumes were either too slow or too fast, which adversely affects the statistics quantifying the differences between observed and simulated quantities. Comparisons with lidar and in situ measurements indicate that long-range transport of aerosols from the global model was likely too high in the free troposphere even though their concentrations were relatively low. This bias led to an over-prediction in aerosol optical depth by as much as a factor of 2 that offset the under-predictions of boundary-layer extinction resulting primarily from local emissions. Lowering the boundary conditions of aerosol concentrations by 50% greatly reduced the bias in simulated aerosol optical depth for all regions of California. This study shows that quantifying regional-scale variations in aerosol radiative forcing and determining the relative role of emissions from local and distant sources is challenging during `clean' conditions and that a wide array of measurements are needed to ensure model predictions are correct for the right reasons. In this regard, the combined CalNex and CARES data sets are an ideal test bed that can be used to evaluate aerosol models in great detail and develop improved treatments for aerosol processes.

Unfractionated heparin (UFH) and low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWH), apart from anticoagulant activities, contain a variety of biological properties such as anti-inflammatory actions possibly affecting sepsis. Chemokines are vital for promoting the movement of circulating leukocytes to the site of infection and are involved in the pathogenesis of sepsis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects and potential mechanisms of UFH on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced chemokine production in human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (HPMECs). HPMECs were pretreated with UFH (0.1 U/ml and 1 U/ml), 15 min prior to stimulation with LPS (10 μg/ml). Cells were cultured under various experimental conditions for 2 h and 6 h for analysis. UFH markedly decreased LPS-induced interleukin (IL)-8 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) mRNA and protein expression in HPMECs. UFH also attenuated the secretion of these chemokines in culture supernatants. In addition, UFH blocked the chemotactic activities of LPS-stimulated HPMECs supernatants on monocytes migration as expected. UFH inhibited LPS-induced Kruppel-like factor 5 (KLF-5) mRNA and protein levels. Concurrently, UFH reduced nuclear factor (NF)-κB nuclear translocation. Importantly, transfection with siRNA targeting KLF-5 reduced NF-κB activation and chemokines expression. These results demonstrate that interfering with KLF-5 mediated NF-κB activation might contribute to the inhibitory effects of chemokines and monocytes migration by UFH in LPS-stimulated HPMECs.

The present study aimed to determine the protective effects and the underlying mechanisms of unfractionated heparin on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced endotoxemia and lung injury in rats. Rats were injected intravenously with LPS at 6 mg/kg. We examined the therapeutic effects of unfractionated heparin (100 or 300 U/kg) on LPS-induced endotoxemia by dosing intravenously simultaneously after LPS challenge. The animal lung edema degree was evaluated by wet/dry weight ratio. The levels of inflammatory mediators including interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and quantitative real-time RT-PCR. The activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) was evaluated by Western blotting. The investigations revealed that treatment with unfractionated heparin can attenuate inflammatory responses in a rat model of LPS-induced acute lung injury, and the effect was much better in 300 U/kg group. The mechanisms by which unfractionated heparin exerts its anti-inflammatory effect are correlated with inhibition of IL-1β and IL-6 production via inactivation of NF-κB.

[1] Saturation-anomaly measurements of methyl bromide (CH3Br) were made in the eastern Pacific (3/30–4/27, 2010) and the eastern Atlantic (10/25–11/26, 2010) to assess the oceanic saturation state as the phaseout of fumigation - non-Quarantine and Pre-Shipment (non-QPS) uses of CH3Br nears completion and atmospheric concentrations continue to decline. These cruises occurred 16 years after the Bromine Latitudinal Air-Sea Transect (BLAST) cruises, which were conducted in the same regions and first established a global oceanic net sink of −12.6 Gg yr−1 for atmospheric CH3Br in 1994. Results from this study suggest saturation anomalies of CH3Br in the surface ocean have become less negative than those observed 16 years ago as the atmospheric burden has declined over the past decade. The global net sea-to-air flux was estimated at 0 to 3 Gg yr−1 in 2010, suggesting that the ocean may become a net small source to atmospheric CH3Br. There are no significant differences between this study and previous studies for measured biological loss rate constants and calculated annual production rates, suggesting that annual production rates and biological degradation rate constants for CH3Br in the surface ocean have likely remained relatively constant over the past 16 years. When including the biological loss rate constants from this study and all previous studies, the mean global biological loss rate constant is constrained to 0.05 ± 0.01 d−1 (at a 95% confidence level). Combining chemical and eddy degradation rate constants, and using an updated gas transfer velocity, we estimate the CH3Br partial atmospheric lifetime with respect to oceanic loss to be 3.1 (2.3 to 5.0) years. Although the new partial atmospheric lifetime is about 1.3 years longer than the best prior estimate, it does not change the overall atmospheric lifetime of CH3Br, 0.8 (0.7–0.9) years.

Mahajan, A. S. ... et. al.-- 9 pages, 6 figures, supplementary material related to this article is available online at: http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/12/11609/2012/acp-12-11609-2012-supplement.pdf, Ship-based Multi-Axis Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy measurements of iodine monoxide (IO) and atmospheric and seawater Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer observations of methyl iodide (CH3I) were made in the Eastern Pacific marine boundary layer during April 2010 as a part of the HaloCarbon Air Sea Transect-Pacific (HaloCAST-P) scientific cruise. The presence of IO in the open ocean environment was confirmed, with a maximum differential slant column density of 5 × 1013 molecules cm -2 along the 1 elevation angle (corresponding to approximately 1 pptv) measured in the oligotrophic region of the Southeastern Pacific. Such low IO mixing ratios and their observed geographical distribution are inconsistent with satellite estimates and with previous understanding of oceanic sources of iodine. A strong correlation was observed between reactive iodine (defined as IO + I) and CH3I, suggesting common sources. In situ measurements of meteorological parameters and physical ocean variables, along with satellite-based observations of Chlorophyll a(Chl a) and Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM) were used to gain insight into the possible sources of iodine in this remote environment. Surprisingly, reactive iodine showed a negative correlation (> 99% confidence) to Chl a and CDOM across the cruise transect. However, a significant positive correlation (> 99% confidence) with sea surface temperature (SST) and salinity instead suggests a widespread abiotic source related to the availability of aqueous iodine and to temperature. © Author(s) 2012. CC Attribution 3.0 License, The Spanish Research Council and the Regional Government of Castilla-La Mancha funded this work. S. Yvon-Lewis acknowledges funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF/OCE 0927874) supporting the shiptime and the halocarbon measurements

OBJECTIVE: To establish the chromatographic fingerprints for the anti-tumor flavonoids of Caulis spatholobi (SSCE). It could used to reflect the chemical information in this part comprehensively, and identify the chemical consitituents preliminarily. METHOD: The HPLC-DAD analysis method was performed on the column Kromasil 100-5PHENYL (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm). The mobile phase was water (0.5% acetic acid)- methanol in gradient elution and the detection wavelength was 254 nm. RESULT: The chromatographic fingerprint of SSCE was established, which showed 16 characteristic peaks from 10 batches of medicinal materials. Among them, the peaks 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, and 16 were identified 3,4-dihodroxybenzoic acid, 4-Hydroxybenzoic Acid, epicatechin, puerarin, daidzein, liquiritigenin, calycosin, genistein, formononetin, and prunetin, respectively. CONCLUSION: The method is convenient, reproducibility and stability. It can used for quality control of the anti-tumor flavonoids of C. spatholobi (SSCE).